Conveying apparatus for a material handling vehicle

ABSTRACT

The conveying apparatus includes an endless metal conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper length extended longitudinally of the vehicle at a position immediately below the bottom discharge outlets of a row of material bins for transfer of material from the bins to a common discharge hopper. A feed pan and return pan for upper and lower runs of the conveyor, respectively, are relatively arranged and constructed to substantially eliminate any accumulation of material adjacent the paths of longitudinal travel of the conveyor. A toothed drive roller located downstream from the delivery end of the conveyor is in driving engagement over the axial length thereof with the conveyor.

United States Patent Palmer 1451 Feb. 18, 1975 CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR AMATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE Inventor: Harold S. Palmer, Oskaloosa, IowaAssignee: Productive Acres Mfg. Co.,

Oskaloosa, Iowa Filed: Mar. 8, 1974 Appl. No.2 449,217

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1930 Hurxthal 198/230 X 7/1960Simonsen 214/832 X Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney, Agent, orFirmRudolph L. Lowell 57 ABSTRACT The conveying apparatus includes anendless metal conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper lengthextended longitudinally of the vehicle at a posi tion immediately belowthe bottom discharge outlets of a row of material bins for transfer ofmaterial from the bins to a common discharge hopper. A feed pan andreturn pan for upper and lower runs of the conveyor, respectively, arerelatively arranged and constructed to substantially eliminate anyaccumulation of material adjacent the paths of longitudinal travel ofthe conveyor. A toothed drive roller located downstream from thedelivery end of the conveyor is in driving engagement over the axiallength thereof with the conveyor.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures sum 10F 2 PATENTEB FEB 1 8 ms i-JJENTEU m18E7?) SHEET 2 OF 2 I @oooooooooooooooo I .IOOGbICUI lllllhgllfiilllllllllll CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR A MATERIAL I HANDLING VEHICLESUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The conveying apparatus is of a simple andcompact construction and operable to efficiently convey materialselectively supplied from one or more of a plurality of alignedcontainers to a common discharge hopper. The conveyor of the apparatustravels in a substantially closed path except at the delivery sectionthereof, so as to substantially eliminate material accumulationsadjacent such path. Since the apparatus is thus practicallyself-cleaning, incompatible materials may be successively and separatelyconveyed from their respective containers and delivered to the dischargehopper without danger of material contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of avehicle having a material handling system which includes the materialconveying apparatus of this invention; with parts broken away to moreclearly showsuch apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1;I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged foreshortened perspective view showing theoperative association of a drive roller with a mesh type conveyor whichform part of the conveying apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged foreshortened side elevational view of theconveying apparatus shown in assembly relation with the vehicle materialcontainers and vehicle discharge hopper;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional detail views as seen on the lines 55 and 66,respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the power transmissionsystem for the vehicle material handling system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the control system for thetransmission system of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the conveying apparatus of this invention, indicated generallyas 10, forms part of a material handling system for a vehicle 11 whichincludes a vehicle body 12 of a tank shape divided into a plurality ofupright material containers 13 arranged in a row longitudinally of thevehicle. A container 13 has a corresponding bottom'discharge opening 14equipped with an associated closure unit 16 (FIG. 2) each of which iscomprised of a pair of flat horizontally slidable doors 17 that aremovable toward and away from each other to closed and opened positions,respectively, relative to a corresponding outlet 14. The closure units16 are operable independently of each other, as by adjustable screens15, to selectively feed material from the containers discharge openings14 on to a common endless conveyor 18. The conveyor has an upper run 19extended longitudinally of the vehicle 11 at a position below andadjacent to the container discharge openings 14 (FIG. 4) so as toreceive directly thereon material from the containers 13.

The materials discharged onto the upper run 19 of the conveyor 18 arecarried to a common receiving hopper 21 which extends transverselyacross the rear end of the vehicle 11. The hopper 21 is of a generallytrough shape (FIGS. 2 and 4) and is provided adjacent the bottom wallthereof with an unloading auger 22 which also extends transversely ofthe vehicle 11. An upright auger unit 23 has its lower end 24 incommunication with the discharge end 26 of the unloading auger 22.Material from the unloading auger 22 is moved upwardly through theupright auger 23 for discharge into a swingable auger 27 for unloadingof the material from the vehicle into a storage bin or the like (notshown).

The vehicle material handling system may be operated to removepredetermined quantities of selected materials from two or more of thecontainers 13 into a single bin concurrently with a mixing together ofsuch materials; or to unload material from only a single container 13into a storage bin. It is not uncommon in this type of material handlingsystem that the containers l3 carry medicated feeds along with livestockand poultry additives and supplements. As a result the materialsseparately carried in the containers 13 may be relatively incompatible,namely, on being mixed together. the resultant product may haveinjurious feeding effects. It is necessary, therefore, that if materialfrom only one container is to be unloaded that the conveying apparatus10 be clean of such material before any further material from anothercontainer is to be unloaded. It is also to be noted that theaccumulation of any material falling from the conveyor belt intoinaccessible collection zones along the path of travel of the endlessconveyor 18 may result in undesirable odors and possible contaminationto new materials being handled by the conveyor apparatus.

These objections are'substantially eliminated by the conveying apparatus10 of this invention which includes the endless conveyor 18 and frontand rear supporting rollers 28 and 29 therefor. The conveyor 18 is of anopen construction comprised ofa plurality of pivoted transverselyextended links 31 (FIG. 3). Each link 31 is formed from a single pieceof a strap material into a series of alternately inverted U-shapesections 32 with adjacent ones of the links 31 arranged such that thebase of the U-sections 32 of one link are positioned betweencorresponding adjacent legs of the Usections 32 of an adjacent link 31.A pivot pin 33 extended through the apices of the U-sections 32 connectsadjacent links 31 together for relative pivotal movement.

The upper run 19 of the conveyor '18 (FIGS. 4 and 5) extended betweenthe rollers28 and 29 is operatively associated with a feed pan 34 of agenerally trough shape and of a size to slidably receive the conveyorbetween the side walls thereof in a supported position on the troughbottom wall 36. The feed pan 34 is substantially co-extensive in lengthwith the upper run 19 of the conveyor 18. It is to be also noted thatthe conveyor U-sections 32 form with the bottom wall 36 of the feed pan34 a plurality-of material holding pockets of a height equal to thelateral dimension or thickness of the conveyor 18.

The lower run 37 of the conveyor 18, which extends between the axes ofthe front roller 28 and an idler roller 38 is operatively associatedwith a return pan 39 (FIG. 6) in a manner similar to the assembly of theconveyor upper run 19 with the feed pan .34. The return pan 39 and lowerrun are substantially equal in length. As shown in FIG. 4, the returnpan 39 is integrally formed at its forward end with an upright section41 of a semi-circular shape which is arranged in a concentric relationwith the front half section of the front roller 28. The terminal end 42of the curved upright front section 41 is located substantially in avertical plane that extends through the axis of the front roller 28. Asa result, the conveyor 18 is in substantial continuous contactengagement with the feed pan 34 and return pan 39 over the completelength of its upper and lower runs 19 and 37, respectively, and thatportion of the conveyor which is trained about the front rollers 28.

The idler rollers 38 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is located forwardly of the rearroller 29 and at a position above a drive roller 43. That section 44 ofthe conveyor 18 between the rear ends of the conveyor upper and lowerruns thus extends downwardly and forwardly from the rear roller 29,about the drive roller 43 and then upwardly and rearwardly for travelabout the idler roller 38. In this respect it is to be noted that thedrive roller 43 is in a substantially one hundred and eighty degreeengagement with the conveyor.

The rollers 29, 38 and 43 are arranged within the discharge hopper 21which has a bottom section 46 of an arcuate shape that constitutes apartial casing or housing for the transversely extended unloading auger22. The lower side of the bottom section 46 (FIG. 1) is arranged abovethe lower end of the upright auger 23 so that material is moved by theunloading auger 22 along the bottom section 46 directly into the lowerend of the upright auger 23 for lifting into the swingable auger 27.

The front wall 47 of the discharge hopper 21 (FIG. 4) projects upwardlyand forwardly from the bottom hopper section 46 and about the driveroller 43 for termination at a position forwardly of and adjacent to theidler roller 38. It is seen, therefore, that any material falling fromthe conveyor in its travel from the rear roller 29 and about the driveroller 43 to the idler roller 38 drops into the discharge hopper forpickup by the unloading auger 22.

The drive roller 43 (FIG. 3) is integrally formed with a plurality ofaxially spaced circumferentially extended rows 48 of radially projectedteeth or projections 49. The teeth 49, in a row thereof, arecircumferentially spaced a distance apart corresponding to the spacingof the U-sections 32 longitudinally of the conveyor 18 for receptioninto certain of such sections for meshing engagement with the conveyor.In turn, the tooth rows 48 are axially spaced a distance apartcorresponding to the spacing of alternate U-sections 32 transverselyofthe conveyor 18. It is seen, therefore, that as the conveyor travelsabout the drive roller 43 certain of the U- sections 32 are entered bythe teeth 49 to completely remove any material therefrom. The driveroller thus functions both to drive the conveyor 18 by the section ofthe tooth rows 48 as sprocket gears relative to the U-sections 32 and toempty the major portion of the U- sections 32 by the material punch outaction of the teeth 49 relative to such sections.

In the operation of the conveying apparatus 10, containers may beemptied separately for separate delivery of material therefrom intoseparate bins for storage purposes. Assuming that a single container 13has the outlet 14 thereof open to the conveyor 18, the conveyor operatesto move the material from the single container into the discharge hopper21. As the conveyor travels over the rear roller 29 the material isdislodged therefrom by the relative pivotal movement of the relativepivotal movement of the conveyor links 31 and the action of gravitythereon resulting from the downward and forward inclination of theconveyor between the rollers 29 and 43. This falling of material fromthe conveyor 18 is complemented by the clearing action of the teeth 49relative to certain of the U- sections 32. By virtue of the rollers 29,38 and 43 being contained within the discharge hopper 21 all of thematerial thus falling from the conveyor 18 drops into the hopper forpickup by the unloading auger 22.

Should any material continue with the conveyor for travel about theidler roller 38, such material is moved along the return pan 39 and thenalong the feed pan 34 for return to the rear roller 29. During thistravel with the conveyor some of the material adhering thereto is shakenloose so that on passing over the rear roller 29 such loosened materialdrops into the discharge hopper 21. Operation of the conveying apparatusis continued until the conveyor and the discharge hopper 21 are clear ofthe material to be unloaded. In this connection, it is to be understoodthat concurrently with the operation of the conveyor 18, the unloadingauger 22 and augers 23 and 27 are also in operation. When the convey ingapparatus 10 is clear ofa first material that has been unloaded forseparate delivery to a storage bin, a second and succeeding containersmay be separately emptied of the material therefrom onto the conveyor18. For each material to be separately delivered, the above operation isrepeated.

Importantly, when the conveyor 18 is clear ofa material it is known thatthe conveyor apparatus 10 is also clean of such material by virtue ofthe travel of the conveyor in a substantially closed passageway inoperative association with the feed pan 34 and return pan 39. Aspreviously mentioned, this operative association is maintained over thatlength of the conveyor which is not within the discharge hopper 21.Since the clearance relation of the conveyor 18 with the pans 34 and 39is less than about one-quarter of an inch, the path of conveyor travelis substantially void of any material collecting zones or pockets.Material spoilage in inaccessible collecting zones and contaminationresulting therefrom or from the mixing of incompatible materials is thuseliminated.

When material from the containers 13 are to be mixed together for use ina mixed form, such mixingv can be done concurrently with the unloadingof the materials from the vehicle 11. In this instance the closures 16of the selected containers 13 are actuated to relatively predeterminedpositions by adjustment of their corresponding adjustment screws 15.This adjustment is determined by the relative amounts of the variousmaterials that are to be mixed together. On completion of suchadjustment, the conveyor apparatus 10 is operated in all respectssimilar to its operation for the unloading of material from a singlecontainer 13. The materials discharged into the hopper 21 are acted uponand mixed by the unloading auger 22 and, in turn, by the upright augerand swingable auger 23 and 27, respectively, prior to the delivery ofthe materials in a mixed condition into a storage bin. Operation iscontinued until the conveying apparatus 10 and auger 22 are clean of thematerials to be unloaded.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the conveying apparatus 10 is hydraulicallyoperated. Oil under pressure is supplied from a pump and reservoir unit51 driven from the vehicle engine (not shown) through a power takeoffdevice 52. The pump 53 of the unit 51 has the outlet 54 thereofconnected to the oil supply manifold 56 of a suitable valve unit 57provided with control handles 58 corresponding in number to the motorunits to be controlled. The valve unit 57 also includes an oil exhaustmanifold 59 connected to the reservoir 61 of the unit 5]. The inlet ofthe pump and outlet of the reservoir are connected by a fluid line 62.

The drive roller 43, and unloading auger 22 are driven by hydraulicmotors 63 and 64, respectively; and the augers 23 and 27 by hydraulicmotors 66 and 67, respectively. Rotation of the upright auger 23 toswing the auger27 is provided by the hydraulic motor 68, and pivotal upand down movement of the swingable auger 27 is provided by the cylinderassembly 69. Each of the hydraulic motors has a pair of fluidconnections 71 and 72 for assembly with corresponding connections 73 and74 on the control valve unit 57.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes and modifications can be made therein which arewithin the full intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a material handling system for a vehicle including a body unithaving a longitudinal row of upright material containers havingcorresponding selectively operable bottom discharge outlets and a commondischarge hopper for receiving material from said discharge outlets, aconveying apparatus for delivering material from said discharge outletsto said common discharge hopper comprising:

a. a longitudinally extended endless conveyor of a mesh constructionhaving an upper run movable below and adjacent said outlets,

b. front and rear longitudinally spaced rollers for said endlessconveyor, said upper run extended between said two rollers,

c. a drive roller for said endless conveyor located in said dischargehopper at a position downwardly and forwardly of said rear roller,

e. said endless conveyor having a portion which from said rear roller istrained about the lower portion of said drive roller and the upperportion of said idler roller and a lower run extended from said idlerroller to said front roller in a parallel relation with the upper runthereof,

f. a feed pan corresponding to said upper length exan idler rollerlocated forwardly of said rear roller, I

tended substantially between said front and rear rollers having an uppersurface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said upperlength, and

g. a return pan corresponding to the lower run of said endless conveyorhaving an upper surface in contact engagement with the bottom surface ofsaid lower run, said return pan having an upright curved front sectionarranged in a concentric relation with the front half section of saidfront roller.

2. In a material handling system according to claim 1, wherein:

a. the section of said conveyor between the rear roller and thedriveroller, and the section thereof between the idler roller and thedrive roller are in a substantially parallel relation.

3. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a'. said endless conveyor has longitudinally extended rows ofinterstices, and

b. said drive roller has a plurality of radially projected teeth on theouter peripheral surface thereof for reception within the interstices ofcertain ones of said rows of interstices.

4. In a material handling system according to claim 3 wherein:

a. said certain ones of interstices include alternate intersticesarranged transversely of the conveyor.

5. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. the terminal end of the upright curved front sec tion of said returnpan lies in a vertical plane located adjacent a'vertical plane extendedthrough the axis of said front roller.

6. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said rear roller, drive roller and idler roller are positioned withinsaid discharge hopper.

7. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:

a. each of said pans is of a trough shape having side walls and saidconveyor is ofa width to be received within a pan between and in contactengagement with the side walls thereof.

l l= l

1. In a material handling system for a vehicle including a body unithaving a longitudinal row of upright material containers havingcorresponding selectively operable bottom discharge outlets and a commondischarge hopper for receiving material from said discharge outlets, aconveying apparatus for delivering material from said discharge outletsto said common discharge hopper comprising: a. a longitudinally extendedendless conveyor of a mesh construction having an upper run movablebelow and adjacent said outlets, b. front and rear longitudinally spacedrollers for said endless conveyor, said upper run extended between saidtwo rollers, c. a drive roller for said endless conveyor located in saiddischarge hopper at a position downwardly and forwardly of said rearroller, d. an idler roller located forwardly of said rear roller, e.said endless conveyor having a portion which from said rear roller istrained about the lower portion of said drive roller and the upperportion of said idler roller and a lower run extended from said idlerroller to said front roller in a parallel relation with the upper runthereof, f. a feed pan corresponding to said upper length extendedsubstantially between said front and rear rollers having an uppersurface in contact engagement with the bottom surface of said upperlength, and g. a return pan corresponding to the lower run of saidendless conveyor having an upper surface in contact engagement with thebottom surface of said lower run, said return pan having an uprightcurved front section arranged in a concentric relation with the fronthalf section of said front roller.
 2. In a material handling systemaccording to claim 1, wherein: a. the section of said conveyor betweenthe rear roller and the drive roller, and the section thereof betweenthe idler roller and the drive roller are in a substantially parallelrelation.
 3. In a material handling system according to claim 1 wherein:a. said endless conveyor has longitudinally extended rows ofinterstices, and b. said drive roller has a plurality of radiallyprojected teeth on the outer peripheral surface thereof for receptionwithin the interstices of certain ones of said rows of interstices. 4.In a material handling system according to claim 3 wherein: a. saidcertain ones of interstices include alternate interstices arrangedtransversely of the conveyor.
 5. In a material handling system accordingto claim 1 wherein: a. the terminal end of the upright curved frontsection of said return pan lies in a vertical plane located adjacent avertical plane extended through the axis of said front roller.
 6. In amaterial handling system according to claim 1 wherein: a. said rearroller, drive roller and idler roller are positioned within saiddischarge hopper.
 7. In a material handling system according to claim 1wherein: a. each of said pans is of a trough shape having side walls andsaid conveyor is of a width to be received within a pan between and incontact engagement with the side walls thereof.